Expansible underreamer trip



Dec.l 1931. RCRUM 1,834,336

7 EXPANSIBLE UNDERREAMER TRIP Original Filed Jan. 5 1928 INVENTOR. AA rA Za/arrd Cram 45 By M 77% 8 ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 1, 1931 UNITEDsTAEs PAT E T 111,. i

ROLAND cream, or WHITTIER, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY es-N'nssreivivrnivrsymo JOHN GRANT, or Los enemas, CALIFORNIA p EXPANSIBLEUNDERREAMER their if Application filed lanuary 3, 1928, Serial no.244,126; ,Renewedhagiist s; is 3 1 Q I This invention relates toa tripmechanism for holding two longitudinally movable members againstmovement and actuable by fluid pressure to release said members.

In tools for well drilling operationhaving work performing membersexpansible and collapsible by manipulation of the tool, it is desirableto set and'maintain the tool parts in collapsed position and torelease'them at will. Thus, it is desirable to run such a tool into theborehole, and, when the position for expansion has been attained, torelease.

contemplates use in a toolprovided with a, body having expansible workperforming members, such as cutters, and an expander movable in the bodyin an axial direction to cause expansion and collapse of the cutters,means for urging the expander into position for expanding said cutters,and anovel trip mechanism to restrainthe expander from moving intocutter expanding position and operable by circulation fluid, such as theslush employed in rotary hydraulic drilling. An underreamer embodyingthese features is disclosed herein.

The objects of this invention are first, to provide a tool of thecharacter described with a catch to retain the parts in collapsed condition and actuable by fluid pressure to re lease the same forexpansion; second,to provide a tool of the character described with tripmechanism having a valve slidable I U r V 111g and the expander ;head.This prov des plunger for holding and releasing the catch;

and third, to provide details of structure, I whereby a simple, durabletool, easily assembled and easy of manipulation is obtained.

An embodiment of this inventionisdisclosed in the accompanying drawingsin.

which Fig.1 is a longitudinal section through an ally byC- V I The bodyincludes a cutter supportingsection, parts being broken out' tocontract'the View; Fig. 2 is a,longitudinalview ofa fragment of the toolshowing the partsfinexpanded position; Fig. 3 is alongitudinal sectionthrough thesp'ring' sleeve; 451s a section as seen on the lined-4; ofFig.1; and Fig. 5 is a section as seen onlthe line Referring With'moreparticularity to the drawings a body is. indicatedby A, and mounted inthe body. so as to be longitudinally movable with respect thereto is anexpander B. The trip mechanism is indicated genertion 6i longitudinallyslotted at 7jto accor modate "the cutter assemblies or work-performlngmembers; The lower end has astem Sto which afishtail bitmay'beconnect'ed f eXpansible underrea'mer in'collapsed condimeans wellknown in the art and not shown herein. The upper end of the b'ody is:eX- ternally reducedin diameter and threaded to receive a spring sleeve9. The latter forms .a part of the body and is provided with an internalshoulder 10- adj acentthe top. "The upper edge of thespring sleeve isrounded. Key-WayslQ'eXtend along the spring'sleeve between the edgev 1 1and the shoulder 10.1

The expander-includes wedge head 14 provided with mortisesl 5 foralignment with slots 7 in the body. It has a'bore 16 extendingtherethrough and a threaded box atits upper end with which is engaged apin 1'7 The pin has aflanged head 1 8and a bore forming 1 a continuationof the bore-.16. Mountedfover the pin is an intermediate I' portion 19.I A socket 20 slidably receives the head 18 of the pin, and a bushing 21serves 'to hold the head in position with a packing ring, preferably ofrubber andindicatedby 22 about the head Awear ring 23 isdisposedlbetween the bushtor a swivel connection betweenthe head andtheremaining portion of the expander. TA

ing shoulder 24tis. provided on the upperend I otthe intermediate member19 for engaging the upper end of the cutter body 6 and to serve as anabutment for a compression spring. A shank portion of tubular form has athreaded pin end 13 engaged in the box at the upper end of intermediatemember 19 and at the other end a tapered threaded pin end 26. An opening27 in the shank serves for communication between a catch key cavity28:01.1 the-outer face of the shank and the bore of the shank. Thiscavity is undercut at the upper end as indicated by 29. Radiallyprojecting keys 30 on the shank are engaged with the key-ways 12 in thespring sleeve. Surrounding the shank and within the spring sleeve is acompression spring 31 tending to retract the expander within the body.Mounted'on the upper end of the shank is a sub 32 having a threaded pin33 for connection to a drill pipe. A bore is provided in theshankjforming a continuation of the bore in the stem shank.

Mounted within the cavity 28 is a catch key 34 having a shoulder 35conforming its ,shape to the rounded edge of the spring sleeve so thatit may engage thereagainst and ride .thereo'ver. Extending from theinner side of the catch key and through the opening 2! is a, finger 36.'Mounted so as to be reciprocable within the bore of the shank is aplunger slide 37 havi ng a bore therein and an annular recess 38 for thefinger 36 on the catch. The upper end of the plunger is formed with avalve seat for a valve plug 39. A stem 4E0 is secured to the plug andpasses through a guide of spider form as indicated by ll, which guide issecured in the bore of the stem. The guide has a hub 42 which may beengaged by abutment nuts 43 mounted on stem '40. The'trip mechanism issuch that the slide plunger may have a limited downward reciprocablemovement with the valve plug resting thereon and closing the bore.However, after the abutment nuts engage the hub of the guide, the valvewill be unseated by further movement of the plunger.

The cutter assemblies each comprise a block 44: mounted by a pivot pine5 in a slot lofthe body. These blocks have tenons which engage themortises 15 in the wedge head. An upperblock 46 is engaged with the headby a tenon disposed in a mortise 15. A set of rollers 47 are journalledbetween the upper andlower blocks. Thecutter assemblies are suchthat'upon the wedge being positioned as shown in Fig. 1, they will beretracted or fcollapsed, and when the wedge is in the position'sbown asin Fig. 2 they will be protracted or expanded. The spring 31 urges theexpander into its cutter expanding position. The tool is collapsed bywithdrawing the stem and moving the plunger slide into its Iupperposition, the key 37being in its outer "position with its shoulder 35resting against the upper face of the spring sleeve. The finger 36 willrest against the slide and the valve 39 will close the bore of theplunger. The tool is then lowered to the position desired for expansionof the tool. Circulation is inaugurated causing pressure downwardly uponme plunger. The plunger will be moved downwardly the valve plug 39follow ing it closing the here. Finally the recess 33 in the plungerslide registers with the finger 36 and the pressure of the spring 31 onthe stem urging itinwardly will cause the key to ride over the edge 11and clear the latter.

-The snrino' isthen free to force the 8X ander into expanding position.Before the plunger reaches its final position, abutment nuts 13 willhave engaged hub 1-2 and unseated the valve 39 so as to keep thecirculation passage open. Rotation of the stem for drilling is thenbegun. mitted from the expander to the body through the keys 30 and thekey-ways 12. Thus, there will be no tension upon the wedge head andthere willbe no tendency to bind the cutter mechanism in the slot.

The subject matter claimed in this case is subsidiary to that claimed incopending application Scr. No. 244,125 filed on even date herewith; andis companion to that of copendingapplication Ser. No. 24%,127 filed on ithe same date. Insofar as generic claims are made covering the specificsubject-matter of this and the last mentioned application, the claimsthereto are carried in the first mentioned application. matter of thisapplication is limited to the triphere shown; the second mentionedapplication is limited in claimed subject-matter to an improvement onthe first distinct from the improvement of this case.

lzVhat I claim is 1. A tool of the clean cter described comprising abody and a member longitudinally urgeable in relation thereto, saidmember having a bore for fluid extending thereinto,

a catch mounted to restrain said member against movement in the urgeddirection, and a valved plungerslide for retaining said catch inrestraining position reciprocable in said bore by fluid pressure to aposition releasing said catch, and means to unseatsaid valve whendisposed in releasing position.

2. A tool of the character described comprising a body and a memberlongitudinally The rotational efiort is trans- The claimed subject"unseat the latter at the releasing position; of

said slide. v

3. A tool of the character describedcomprising abody and a memberlongitudinally urgeable in relation thereto, said member having a borefor fluid extendingthereint'o, a catch mounted to restrain said"-memberagainst movement inthe urged direction, a hollow plunger slideforre'taining said catch in restraining position-and reciprocable insaid boreby fluid pressure to a position releasing saidcatch, areciprocable valve controlling the flow of fluidthrough the bore of'saidslide and provided with-a stem said valve being reciprocable with saidslide in position closing the valve port, and limiting means for saidvalve to engage said stem and unseatsaid valve at the releasing positionof saidshde. 1

- 4. A 'tool of the characterdescribed comprising a body and alongitudinally urgeable member therein havlng a bore extending'therethrough for flu1d;'a catch mounted on said member to engage thesurface on said body and restrain said member against movement in:theurged direction; anda trip mechanism including a slide'for retainingsaid catch in restraining position being operable by pressure of fluidin said bore to release said catch.

5. A tool of the character described com:- prising'a body and-alongitudinally urgelable member therein having a bore extendingtherethrough for fluid; a catch mounted on said member to engage thesurface ofsaid body and restrain saldmember against-move ment in theurged direction; and'a trip mech anism including a slide forretainingsaid catch in restraining position reciproca-bly disposed in the bore of"said urgeablemember and movable by'pressure' offluid therein to releasesaid catch. I

'6. Atool of the character describedcomprisinga body and alongitudinally iirgeable member therein having a bore extending'thei'ethrough for fluid; a catch mountedon said member to engage thesurface on said body and restrain said member against move ment in theurged direction; and a trip mech anism including a valved plunger slidefor retaining said catch in restraining position reciprocable 1n saidbore by fluid pressure to a position opening the valve and releasingsaidcatch. v tool of the character described-comprisin a body and alongitudinally urgeable member therein having a bore extendingtherethrough for fluid; a catch mounted on said member to engage asurface on said body and restrain said member against movement in theurged directlon; and a trlpine'chani'sm including a valved plunger slidefor retaining saidcatch in restrainingposition recipro- 'cable in'sald-body'byfluid pressure to a pos tion releasing said catch; andmeans to unand restrainsaid member against movement in theurged'direction; and a trip mechanism including'ahollow plunger slidefor retainin'g said catch in restraining position and reciprocahle ins'aidbore by fluid pressure to a position releasing said catch, a valvefor closing thebore of and reciprocable with said slide and means tolimit reciprocation of said valve to unseat the latter at the releasingposition of said slide. i

9'. A tool of the character described comprising a body and alongitudinally urgeable member therein having a bore extendingtherethroughforfluid;'a catch mounted on said inember to engage asurface on said body and restrain said member against movement in theurged direction; a trip mechanism including a hollow plunger slide forretaining said catch in restraining position and reciprocable in saidbore by fluid pressure to a position releasing said'catch', areciprocable valve controlling the flow of" fluid through the bore ofsaid slide and'provided with a stem, said valve being reciprocable withsaid slidefintoposition closing the valve port, and

limiting-means for said valve to engage said stem and unseat said'valveat the releasing position of sald sllde.

1'0. 'A-tool ofthe character described comprisinga'bo'dy having alongitudinally extending bore, a'lon'gitudinally urgeable'memher-movable in s'aidbore having a bore extending therethrough forpassage of fluid,

therebe'ing-a longitudinally extending heyway in said body; a catch keymounted in 111A tool of the character described com-.

prisinga body having a longitudinally eX- tending bore, a longitudinallyurgeable member movable in said bore havlng a bore extendingtherethroughfor passage of fluid,

there being a longltudinally extending keyway in said'member, a catchkey mounted in 3 said way'with one end supported by an end wall of saidway and the other end disposed to engage an opposing surfaceon said bodywhen in-projectedposition so as to restrain said memberagamstmovement inthe urgeds y with one c ported by an end 7 direction and to release saidkey when in retracted position so as to clear said surface and releasesaid member; and a slide for retaining said catch in restrainingposition reciprocably disposed in said bore and movable by pressure offluid therein to release said catch.

12. A tool of the character described comprising a body having alongitudinally extending bore, a longitudinally urgeable member movablein said bore having a bore extending therethrough for passage of fluid,there being a longitudinally extending keyway in said member, a catchkey mounted in said way with one end supported by an end wall of saidway and the other end disposed to engage an opposing surface on saidbody when in projected position so as to restrain said member againstmovement in the urged direction and to release said key when inretracted position whereby to clear said surface and release saidmember; and a valved plunger slide for retaining said catch inrestraining position reciprocable in said bore by fluid pressure to aposition opening the valve and releasing said catch. I

18. A tool of the character described comprising a body having alongitudinally extending bore, a longitudinally urgeable member movablein said bore having a bore extending therethrough for passage of fluid,there being a longitudinally extending keyway in said member, a catchkey mounted in said way with one end supported by an end wall of saidway and the other end disposed to engage an opposing surface on saidbody when in projected position so as to restrain said member againstmovement in the urged direction and to release said key when inretracted position whereby to clear said surface and release saidmember; a valved plunger slide for retaining said catch in restrainingposition reciprocable in said bore by fluid pressure to apositionreleasing said a catch, and means to unseat said valve whenagainst movement in the urged direction and to release said key when inretracted position whereby to clear said surface and release saidmember, a hollow plunger slide for retaining said catch in restrainingposition and reciprocable in said bore by fluid pressure to a positionreleasing said catch, a valve for closing the bore of andreciprocablewithsaid slide, and means to limit reciprocation of saidvalve to unseat the latter and to release the position of said slide.

15. A tool of thecharacter described comprising a body having alongitudinally extendingbore, a longitudinally urgeable memrection andto release said key when in retracted position whereby to clear saidsurface and release said member, a hollow plunger slide for retainingsaid catch in restraining position and reciprocable in said bore byfluid pressure to a position releasing said catch, a reciprocable valvecontrolling the flow-of fluid through the bore of said slide andprovided with a stem, said valve being reciprocable with said slide intoposition closing the valve port, and limiting means for said valve toengage said stem and unseat said valve at the releasing position of saidslide.

16. A toolof the character described comprising a tubular body portion,a hollow stem longitudinally nrgeable into the bore of said body andprojectable beyond the same, means for urging said stem into said body,there being an outer shoulder at the .end'of said body and a cavity insaid stem, a catch key accom- H modated in said cavity with an endprojectable to engage said shoulder when in outer position'and to clearsaid shoulder when in inner position, a finger on said key extend'iblethrough an opening communicating with the bore of said seem; a plungerslide for retaining said catch in restraining position reciprocable inthe bore of said stem by fluid pressure, said finger being engageablewith said slide to retain said catch in restraining position, therebeing a cavity in said plunger to receive said finger and release saidcatch, and a valve 111 said plunger closed at the restrain- .ingposition of said plunger and open at the releasing position.

17. A tool of the character described comprising a tubular body portion,a hollow stem longitudinally urgeable into the bore of said body andprojectable beyond the same, means for urging said stem into said body,there being an outer shoulder at the end of said body and a cavity insaid stem, a catch key accommodated in said cavity with one endsupported on an end wall of said cavity and the other end transverselyprojectable to engage said shoulder when in outer position and to clearsaid shoulder when in inner position, a finger on said key extendingthrough an opening communicating with the bore of said stem; a plungerslide for retaining said catch in restraining position reciprocable inthe bore of said stem by fluid pressure, said finger being engageablewith said slide to retain said catch in restraining position, therebeing a cavity in said plunger to receive said finger and release saidcatch, and a valve in said plunger closed at the restraining position ofsaid plunger and means to open said valve at the releasing position. Inwitness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my namethis 5th day of December, 1927.

ROLAND CRUM.

